130
FXAK69 PAFG 061241
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
341 AM AKST Sat Dec 6 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Cold and windy conditions for most locations today and tomorrow.
Wind gusts may be as high as 50 mph across Interior Summits and parts
of the West Coast. The main hazards are dangerous wind chills,
blowing snow and possibly some tree/power line damage. Winter
weather products (i.e Blizzard Warnings, Cold Weather and Winter
Weather Advisories) are issued as needed across the state.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Areas of stratus clouds are diminishing in coverage, allowing
  valley temperatures to drop into the 20s and 30s below zero with
  a few 40F below zero readings.

- Cold and windy this weekend for most of the Interior.
 - N/NE wind increases significantly today from the Yukon Flats
    southwest. Gusts above 1000ft may be upwards of 30 to 50 mph
    whereas valleys can see gusts up to 35 mph (WHEN the inversion
    breaks). This continues into Sunday PM, then weakens.
 - Ambient temperatures through Sunday, with no clouds or wind,
    will drop between 20F to 40F below zero. A few colder spots,
    especially north and east of Fairbanks may hit 45F below.
 - Wind chill values may be as low as 60 below zero from Tanana
    to the Yukon Flats this weekend. Significant blowing snow is
    expected in the higher terrain above 1000ft. Periods of
    blizzard conditions are expected along the Steese/Dalton
    Highway Summits and along the southern slopes of the AK Range.
 - This could be a significant wind event and end up being
    impactful as it could lead to tree damage and power outages.

- Colder and calm weather prevails next week with minimum
  temperatures dropping between 30F and 50F below zero. A few
  colder spots in the Yukon Tanana Uplands (like Chicken) may
  approach 55F below zero.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- A cold trend continues through the weekend. Expect minimum
  temperatures in the single digits above and below 0 along the
  coast and in the teens to 30s below zero in the Interior
  Valleys.

- North-northeast winds increase today. Wind gusts may be up to 35
  to 45 mph along the coast from the Seward Peninsula south.

- Winter weather advisories have been issued for the Middle to
  Lower Yukon Valleys and the Eastern Norton Sound for blowing
  snow and dangerous wind chills. Gusts of 35 to 50 mph could lead
  to periods of blowing snow and wind chills as low as 50F below
  zero.

- Blizzard warnings remain in effect for the Upper Kuskokwim and
  Western Alaska Range. Recent snowfall increases the risk for
  prolonged periods of blizzard conditions. Valleys and channels
  open to the northeast are most likely to see the worst
  conditions. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph could lead to wind chills
  as low as 50F below zero.

- Winds weaken Monday and temperatures decrease again next week.
  Lows potentially in the 30s/40s below zero in the Interior and
  single digits/teens below zero along the coast.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Most of the light snow chances have ended. There is another
  chance for light snow Monday night into Tuesday as a front
  approaches. Up to 1 inch of snow is possible.

- Widespread temps in the 20s and 30s below zero with some 40F
  below readings possible.

- Northerly winds increase today up to 10 to 15 mph along the
  coast and up to 25 to 35 mph through Brooks Range passes. Wind
  chills fall to as cold as -60F through the Brooks Range passes.

- Wind diminishes tomorrow with a warming trend into the early
  part of next week as clouds increase in coverage with chances
  for snow.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
The overall pattern and forecast hasn`t changed and is on track. A
very strong 555 decameter ridge is over Eastern Siberia with a
northeast to southwest oriented trough becoming negatively tilted
over the Gulf of Alaska. At the base of the trough, cyclogenesis
is ongoing as a low develops and strengthens to 498 decameters by
this afternoon. As a result of these two systems in close
proximity to each other, there is a squeeze play going on across
the state. This is bringing gusty winds which have begun from Fort
Yukon to the Yukon Delta. Wind gusts will actively increase
through the day, then gradually weaken tomorrow. There is a chance
for very cold wind chills, blowing snow and even localized power
outages today and tomorrow. Otherwise, as the high gradually
weakens and drifts southwest, the low will also weaken while
moving to Juneau. This will drop our winds, but persistent
north/northeast flow will keep very cold temperatures through next
week.

Early next week (Monday into Tuesday), there is a chance for light
snow in the Central and Eastern North Slope and the Northern
Slopes of the Brooks Range. This could accumulate around 1 inch,
but it will bring temperatures up, likely in the single digits
below zero along the North slope and in the single digits to mid
teens below zero in the Brooks Range. No precipitation or
extensive cloud cover is expected in the Interior or West Coast
for the foreseeable future.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
One change next week is the 850mb temperatures are not as extreme
as we once saw this week. Instead of 850 mb temperatures around
30C below zero, we are now seeing a trend towards 15C to 25C below
zero (warmest west, coldest east). This would support
temperatures in the 20s to 30s below zero in the Western Interior
and 30s to 50F below in the Central/Eastern Interior. A few of the
coldest spots in the Eastern Interior may approach 55F below zero
with clear skies and calm winds. However, the coldest air has
been trending east, so we will monitor this through the weekend
and into next week.

The North Slope and Brooks Range will likely be a bit warmer than
the Interior as they see more persistent cloud cover and chances
for snow, especially late in the week. The current model trends
are pointing to a front dampening the ridge by Friday but given
the strength of it, the front should ride up and over the ridge,
towards the North Slope. Most of Interior Alaska looks to be in
the cold and dry pattern for the next 1 to 2 weeks at least.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Cold Weather Advisory for AKZ809>811.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ848-850.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ851-852.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ824-829-830.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ832-834.
     Cold Weather Advisory for AKZ833-838>847.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801-853.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802>805-852.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ816-850-851.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ850.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ858.
&&

$$

Bianco